Looking for ways to know if you’re eating too much salt? If yes, you’re on the right page! Because, in this article, we’ll discuss the 7 signs that explain you’re eating too much salt.
According to the most recent dietary guidelines, we should consume 2,300 mg of sodium (1 teaspoon) per day. On average, our daily sodium intake is about 3,400 mg (1 and 1/3 teaspoons).
Too much salt can lead to hypernatremia, which in turn can cause serious health issues over time.
7 Signs That Explain You’re Eating Too Much Salt
Here are the most common warning signs that you might be eating too much salt:
1) Excessive Thirst
Salt contains sodium, which helps balance your body’s fluid levels. When your body absorbs too much salt over time, it needs more fluid to cleanse your body and allow your muscles and organs to work properly.
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This process helps your body balance its water and sodium balance. Drinking water is the most effective way to do this.
It’s important to remember that if you don’t drink enough water, your body will start to draw fluid out of your cells, which can lead to dehydration.
2) Muscle Cramps
Sodium and potassium balance is important because these chemicals are involved in muscle contractions.
If you use a salt shaker too much or eat salty foods, you can experience cramps or tightness, and pain in your muscles.
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3) Continuous Headaches
Sodium increases the amount of sodium in your blood, which makes your blood vessels fill up with more fluid. The more fluid your blood is, the bigger your blood vessels become.
The more your blood vessels fill with fluid, the more your blood pressure rises. The higher your blood pressure, the worse your headaches.
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4) Cognitive Problems
Hypertension is caused by high levels of salt in the blood. High levels of salt can cause damage to the arteries that supply your brain.
These arteries are responsible for your brain’s ability to think clearly. High blood pressure can make it difficult to focus on everyday tasks.
Continuous dehydration can cause forgetfulness, fatigue, and slow reaction time.
5) Swelling
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If you notice that your rings are a bit tight, that your feet are a bit swollen, or that your eyes are a bit swollen when you wake up in the morning, then you are probably eating a lot of salt.
What is edema? Edema is when your body starts to retain extra water due to high levels of salt in your diet.
6) Changes In Urination
In general, the buildup of sodium causes severe changes in urination, which can be caused by two things:
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Excessive salt intake causes your kidneys to work extra hard to remove salt from your body.
This can result in kidney disease, which usually results in more frequent urination that appears clear or transparent.
Excess sodium in your body can also be caused by the loss of fluids, which often leads to dehydration.
When your body loses a lot of water, your urine output tends to decrease and become thick and dark yellow.
7) Achy Bones
One of the biggest threats to a strong skeleton is salt intake. When you consume high amounts of common table salt your kidneys can’t break it down completely, leading to a significant increase in calcium loss.
Chronic low calcium levels can cause bone weakness, dental issues, and even osteoporosis.
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How To Reduce Your Salt Intake
Avoid the so-called “Salty Six”: bread and rolls; pizza; sandwiches and burgers; cold cuts; deli meats; canned soups; burritos; and tacos.
Processed or restaurant foods are often high in sodium due to additives and preservatives. Always check the nutrition label to see the sodium percentage. Opt for foods with 5% to less of the daily sodium value per serving.
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Try new flavors. Instead of adding salt to your food, try adding fresh or dried herbs, or adding acids such as lemon juice and vinegar to your meals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few FAQs I get asked concerning (or related to) 7 signs that explain you’re eating too much salt.
How do I know if I’m eating too much salt?
Sudden Increased thirst.
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What happens to your body when you eat too much salt?
You start to experience high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
How do you flush salt out of your body?
Drinking lots of water
What is the best thing to do after eating too much salt?
Sodium levels can be reduced by drinking plenty of water and engaging in physical activity, but it’s not just the foods you eat that play a role.
Potassium works in a similar way to sodium in regulating blood pressure, which is why it’s important to eat plenty of it.
How long does it take salt to leave your body?
4 – 10 days
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What happens if you stop eating salt for a week?
Salt deficiency can cause shock, coma, and death.
Can you just drink more water if you eat too much salt?
As you drink more water, it neutralizes the sodium in your body and rehydrates the cells all over your body.
Can you flush salt out of your body with water?
Unfortunately, “the total amount of salt in the blood has an impact on your body,” he says. “Salt can’t be diluted or removed with water. Ideally, your kidneys would remove excess salt from your blood and release it into your urine.”
Does salt make you urinate more?
When you eat high-sodium foods, your kidneys work overtime to get rid of the extra salt, resulting in more frequent urination.
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What foods reduce salt in the body?
Fruits: Apples, oranges, bananas
Vegetables: Spinach, carrots, broccoli
Frozen Vegetables: No butter, no sauce
Canned Vegetables: Low sodium or no salt added, rinse to remove some sodium
Low-sodium vegetable juice
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What foods get rid of salt in the body?
- Sweet Potatoes
- Potatoes
- Greens
- Tomatoes and lower sodium tomato sauce
- White Beans
- Kidney Beans
- Nonfat yogurt
- Orange
- Bananas
- Cantaloupe
Which organs remove salt from your body?
The kidney
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How do you reduce salt in jollof rice?
Add the unsalted and cooked versions to your pan and bring to a simmer or bake in the recipe with a splash of water.
A Word From GetMe Treated
The above tips are the 7 signs that explain you’re eating too much salt. How much salt are you eating daily? You can tell us in the comment section.
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